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Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Hardcover, 272 pages

Published
February 22nd 2011
by HarperCollins

Inside Out and Back Again is a New York Times
bestseller, a Newbery Honor Book, and a winner of the National Book
Award!

Inspired by the author's childhood experience of fleeing Vietnam
after the Fall of Saigon and immigrating to Alabama, this coming-of-age
debut novel told in verse has been celebrated for its touching
child's-eye view of family and immigration.

For all the ten years
of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the
joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now
the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to
flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In
America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its
strangers, the dullness of its food . . . and the strength of her very
own family.

This moving story of one girl's year of change,
dreams, grief, and healing received four starred reviews, including one
from Kirkus which proclaimed it "enlightening, poignant, and
unexpectedly funny." An author's note explains how and why Thanhha Lai
translated her personal experiences into Hà's story.

This book is simply amazing. The story of a young girl's life as she goes through a major change during such a tumultuous time in history is beautifully written and allows readers to see what it was like from a different perspective. Since this was based on the author's life, there is an authenticity on these pages that allows readers to experience the grief, change, fear, and so much more. It was amazing to me how we tend to think that we experience things that are particular to us, but this novel shows how so many things we experience are universal. Simply stated, I loved this book.

Teaching Ideas:

This book is one that Social Studies teachers should have in their classrooms. When teaching about the Vietnam War, there are many books that teachers can use to discuss the American side of it. This book, however, shows another perspective of the Vietnam War and allows readers to experience that through the eyes of someone who experienced it first hand. This book would be a great mentor text to give to a group of students to read or even as a great read aloud.